Summer is officially upon us. The calendar is well into June and that means school is out. It also means we need to fill the suddenly empty days. Whether you homeschool or not, here are a few ideas to get you started. Then let me know what ideas you can pass on to the rest of us! Become a tourist in …
Never Say No: Breathing Life into Our Kids
Parenting is a tough job. Each child is different. Each has a different calling. Different temperament. Different personality. That means there isn’t one cookie cutter that will work for parenting each child. Because of that, I am always looking for tools that will equip me to better parent the children God has entrusted to me. One of my heart’s cries has …
5 Ways to Breath Life into Your Child’s Dreams
A year ago my oldest daughter and I spent about twenty hours helping out at a gymnastics meet. Yes, you’re reading that right. Twenty hours. The competing girls were all levels 3 & 4s. For many of them it was their first state competition. And their dreams were coming true. This weekend our 11 year old competed in his first gymnastics …
Riding the Waves of Teenage Emotions
Some days just don’t start well. One of the kids wakes up on the wrong side of the bed – and it’s so bad you wonder who replaced your sweet, fun-loving kid with this surly grouch. What really makes it bad is one bad mood spreads like the most effective virus…especially when the younger kids watch and decide it must …
4 Tips to Finding Peace as a Perfectionist Loving Mama
From my earliest days, I knew I wanted to be a mom. I also knew I wanted to take Katie Couric’s spot on The Today Show – hasn’t happened. Wanted to take Sandra Day O’Connor’s spot on the Supreme Court – also seems highly unlikely. And wanted to be the youngest state senator in Nebraska history – my college friend …
Cheer for the Children: Tips to Give a Military Kid a Merry Christmas
Christmas is hard when Dad or Mom is deployed, and providing support, strong connections to the deployed parent, and a solid sense of family tradition can help the child feel loved and secure. There are two sets of tips—for parents of military children, and for civilians who want to bless military kids in the community.
Notes to My 14-Year-Old
In my life, I have received many gifts. Five I treasure are my husband and our four children. Recently our oldest turned 14. It’s a magical time. A time of self discovery. A time of owning our faith. A time of anticipation. Believe it or not, I well remember those days. They are days of transition. Days of confusion. Days …
Back-to-School Already? 4 reminders
One of the unique things about me is that I’m a second-generation homeschooling momma. That means I was homeschooled and now homeschool my kiddos. Yesterday morning, my heart was in my throat as I watched my baby girl board the school bus. She may be 13, almost 14, but this was the first time she’s stepped outside our homeschool to …
5 Reasons Breaking Away from Routine is a Good Idea
If you don’t step away, life will continue to move just as fast as it does at home.
Post Father’s Day Musings
Yesterday was Father’s Day. I’ve been surrounded by amazing men in my life, and I’m grateful. My Grandpa C. always had a big smile and hug for his grandkids. I remember special weekends in Tecumseh, Nebraska, with him (and my Grandma). He and Grandma also took me on a roadtrip to New Mexico one Thanksgiving so that I could spend …